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Lantana is a small town in Palm Beach County, Florida, situated along the Intracoastal Waterway just south of Lake Worth Beach. Despite its modest size, Lantana has a significant renter population, as is common throughout South Florida's competitive housing market. Tenants in Lantana are governed exclusively by Florida's statewide landlord-tenant law — the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) — which sets the baseline rules for deposits, repairs, eviction, and tenant protections.
Renters in Lantana most commonly seek information about security deposit return timelines, what notice a landlord must give before ending a tenancy, and what to do when a landlord refuses to make necessary repairs. Florida law addresses each of these situations with specific procedures and remedies that every tenant should understand before signing a lease or facing a dispute.
This page provides an informational summary of the laws that apply to Lantana renters as of April 2026. It is not legal advice. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary — if you face an eviction, housing condition issue, or deposit dispute, consult a qualified attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
There is no rent control in Lantana, Florida — or anywhere else in the state. Florida's Legislature passed HB 1431 in 2023, which prohibits all local governments from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance or policy that limits the amount a landlord may charge for rent. This ban applies to counties and municipalities statewide and is codified at Fla. Stat. § 125.0103 (counties) and Fla. Stat. § 166.043 (municipalities). The law invalidated voter-approved rent stabilization measures — including one passed in Orange County — demonstrating that even democratic approval at the local level cannot override this statewide prohibition.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Lantana can raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or with proper notice on a month-to-month tenancy. There is no cap, no formula, and no requirement to justify the increase. Your only protection against a rent increase is your lease: if you are within a fixed-term lease, the landlord cannot raise rent until that term expires. Once your lease ends or if you are on a month-to-month arrangement, the landlord may propose a new rental amount, and you may accept, negotiate, or vacate.
Florida's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Fla. Stat. §§ 83.40–83.682) provides Lantana renters with several important protections, summarized below.
Habitability and Repairs (Fla. Stat. § 83.51 & § 83.56): Landlords are legally required to maintain rental units in a condition that meets applicable building, housing, and health codes and to keep the premises structurally sound, weathertight, and free from pest infestation. If your landlord fails to make an essential repair after receiving a written 7-day notice, you may — depending on the severity — terminate the lease, withhold rent, or pursue damages in court. The notice must describe the problem and be delivered in a manner consistent with Fla. Stat. § 83.56(1).
Security Deposit Rules (Fla. Stat. § 83.49): Landlords must hold security deposits in a Florida banking institution and notify the tenant in writing within 30 days of receiving the deposit of where it is held and under what terms. See the dedicated section below for return deadlines and penalties.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Fla. Stat. § 83.57): Month-to-month tenants must receive at least 15 days' written notice before the end of a rental period to terminate the tenancy. Week-to-week tenants are entitled to at least 7 days' written notice. These minimums apply in the absence of a lease provision requiring longer notice.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Fla. Stat. § 83.64): A landlord may not increase rent, reduce services, or threaten or pursue eviction against a tenant for complaining to a governmental agency about housing code violations, joining or organizing a tenant union, or exercising any right protected by Florida law. If you can show that adverse action followed within a reasonable time after protected activity, the burden shifts to the landlord to prove the action was not retaliatory.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction (Fla. Stat. § 83.67): Landlords are strictly prohibited from removing a tenant's belongings, changing the locks, removing doors or windows, or interrupting utility services — such as electricity or water — to coerce a tenant into leaving. Violating this statute entitles the tenant to recover actual damages or three months' rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Florida law establishes clear rules for how landlords must handle security deposits, all found in Fla. Stat. § 83.49. There is no statutory cap on how much a landlord may charge as a security deposit in Florida, meaning a Lantana landlord may require any amount agreed upon in the lease.
Return Deadline — No Deductions: If the landlord does not intend to make any deductions from the deposit, the full amount must be returned to the tenant within 15 days after the tenant vacates the unit.
Return Deadline — With Deductions: If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must send the tenant a written notice — by certified mail to the tenant's last known address — within 30 days after the tenant vacates, itemizing each claimed deduction. The tenant then has 15 days to object in writing. If the tenant objects, the landlord must either return the disputed amount or file a claim in court.
Penalty for Non-Compliance: A landlord who fails to provide the required written notice within 30 days forfeits the right to make any deductions from the deposit. If the landlord wrongfully withholds a deposit after forfeiting that right, the tenant can sue and may recover the full deposit plus court costs. Courts may also award attorney's fees to a prevailing tenant.
Move-In / Move-Out Documentation: While not required by statute, tenants in Lantana are strongly advised to complete a written move-in inspection checklist and photograph the unit's condition at move-in and move-out to create evidence in any future deposit dispute.
Evictions in Lantana follow Florida's statewide eviction procedure under Fla. Stat. §§ 83.56–83.62. A landlord must follow every step in the legal process; there are no shortcuts.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must deliver written notice to the tenant. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing the Eviction Complaint: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an eviction complaint (unlawful detainer) in Palm Beach County Court. The tenant is served with a summons and has 5 business days to file a written response (Fla. Stat. § 83.60).
Step 3 — Court Hearing: If the tenant responds, the court schedules a hearing. If the tenant does not respond within 5 business days, the landlord may seek a default judgment. Tenants who withhold rent as a defense must deposit the disputed rent amount into the court registry when filing their response (Fla. Stat. § 83.60(2)).
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the landlord wins, the court issues a writ of possession. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office serves the writ, and the tenant has 24 hours to vacate before the sheriff enforces removal.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under Fla. Stat. § 83.67, a landlord may never change locks, remove doors, shut off utilities, or remove a tenant's property to force them out — even if rent is unpaid. Doing so exposes the landlord to liability for actual damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.
Just Cause: Florida does not require just cause for eviction outside of an active lease term. However, anti-retaliation protections under Fla. Stat. § 83.64 may apply if the eviction follows a tenant's exercise of a legal right.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. Nothing here creates an attorney-client relationship. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing legal matter in Lantana, Florida, you should consult a licensed Florida attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in Palm Beach County. Always verify current statutes and local ordinances independently, as laws may have changed since this page was last updated in April 2026.
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